This change will apply in England, Scotland and Northern
Ireland from 00:01am on Monday 14 December. It already
applies in Wales.
Self-isolation is essential to reducing the spread of COVID
as it breaks the chains of transmission. After reviewing
the evidence, we are now confident that we can reduce the
number of days that contacts self-isolate from 14 days to
10 days.
People who return from countries which are not on the
travel corridor list should also self-isolate for 10 days
instead of 14 days.
People who test positive should continue to self-isolate
for 10 days from onset of symptoms or 10 days from point of
taking a positive test if asymptomatic.
We urge everyone to self-isolate when appropriate, it will
save lives.
Chief Medical Officer for England,
Chief Medical Officer for Northern Ireland, Dr Michael
McBride
Chief Medical Officer for Scotland, Dr Gregor Smith
Chief Medical Officer for Wales, Dr Frank Atherton
On Monday 14 December, the change to the isolation period
for contacts will apply to all those who are currently
self-isolating including those who commenced self-isolation
before Monday.
Self-isolation periods will begin on the day after
exposure, a test or the start of symptoms.
The NHS Test and Trace service will tell people to
self-isolate for 10 days instead of 14 days from Monday.
The passenger locator form will be updated from Monday.
Due to the time taken to test technical changes and release
updates through the app store, the NHS COVID-19 app will
tell close contacts to isolate for 10 days instead of 14
days from Thursday 17 December.
In England, if you receive a notification from the NHS
COVID-19 app before 17 December to isolate because you have
been in contact with someone who has tested positive:
- if you have also been contacted by NHS Test and Trace
you must follow isolation guidance provided by contact
tracers
- if you have been advised to isolate by the app (and not
by NHS Test and Trace) then you can leave isolation when
your isolation countdown timer says 3 days
